HUDS Satisfaction Declines

Student satisfaction with all aspects of the dining services dropped this year, according to a survey released yesterday.

Harvard University Dining Services attributed the results to the reduction in hot breakfast service.

The biannual survey of undergraduates showed a fall in overall satisfaction from 3.85 to 3.72 on a five-point scale, as well as decreasing scores in all 15 other categories ranging from the taste of the food to the cleanliness of facilities.

Taste remains students’ top priority, and the favorite dish among undergraduates is chicken parmesan.

The least favorite dish, pad thai, will be temporarily discontinued and reworked to improve taste.

Among the requested foods that will appear more often on the menu are steak, Indian food, potstickers, and fish. Herb-baked salmon will be served for lunch tomorrow, and those not going to Yale this Saturday will have curry and naan for dinner instead of the sticky rice bar.

Sushi, which was among the top five requested items, will not find itself in dining halls because of cost issues, said HUDS spokeswoman Crista Martin.

Martin said that she believes part of the reduction in satisfaction can be explained by a negative “overall feelings” regarding breakfast.

“I suspect that it has a great deal to do with the change in service, the change particularly in breakfast service,” Martin said.

Several students offered similar explanations.

“I’ve heard from many people that I know that they don’t go to breakfast anymore,” said Lauren B. Hawkins ’11.

“I would say that’s the main issue. I play football so I know a lot of the guys need protein in the mornings,” said Andrew D. Hatch ’09-’11.

But only 4 percent of respondents complained about the elimination of weekday hot breakfast in the Houses, according to a blog post by Ted A. Mayer, the executive director of Harvard’s dining services.

When asked about the decrease in HUDS survey scores, students said that they did not notice a difference in food service or quality.

“I don’t think there’s a difference. I don’t think quality or service has at all really changed,” Hawkins said.

“I personally haven’t noticed a significant difference,” said Sarah Berhanu ’10-’12.

—Staff writer Naveen N. Srivatsa can be reached at srivatsa@fas.harvard.edu.